CTAN update: xpackages

[CTAN Announcements]

i'm hoping the daemon's coup de grace, for the day, is:

> The following information was provided by the package's contributor.
> 
> Name of contribution: xpackages
> Author's name: LaTeX3 Project
> Location on CTAN: /macros/latex/contrib/xpackages
> Summary description: High-level LaTeX3 concepts
> License type: lppl
> 
> Announcement text given by the package's contributor:
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> The xpackages bundle: high-Level LaTeX3 concepts
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> The xpackages are experimental, high-level parts of LaTeX3. They
> are designed to provide a link between the programming system 
> (expl3) and the user. Each xpackage is focussed in a different
> area, for example creating document commands (xparse), 
> producing flexible formatting functions (xtemplate), etc.
> 
> At present, the xpackages are designed to be loaded on top 
> of LaTeX2e:
> 
>   \usepackage{xparse}
>   \usepackage{xtemplate}
>   \usepackage{xcoffins}
>   
> In time, a LaTeX3 format will be produced based on this code.
> This allows the code to be used in LaTeX2e packages now while a
> stand-alone LaTeX3 is developed.
> 
> To use the xpackages, you will need to have the expl3 package
> available. This provides the LaTeX3 coding environment on which
> the xpackages are built.
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> This release (SVN 2119)
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> This release adds a first CTAN snapshot of the xcoffins
> package. The xcoffins package allows the alignment of boxed 
> materials using a series of handle positions, supplementing
> the single TeX reference point. At present, the basic coffin
> concept is secure but further work may take place on
> functionality and interface as the package is applied to a
> variety of design scenarios.
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> The LaTeX3 Project
> ---------------------------------------------------------------- 

thanks for the upload.  i've installed the new stuff, and made a
preliminary stab at cataloguing the xcoffins detail (i will review that
work tomorrow, in the cold light of day).

> Users may view the package catalogue entry at
>   http://www.tex.ac.uk/tex-archive/help/Catalogue/entries/xpackages.html
> or they may browse the package directory at
>   http://www.tex.ac.uk/tex-archive/macros/latex/contrib/xpackages/

The catalogue entry will change (somewhat) overnight tonight.

Robin Fairbairns

For the CTAN team